'Tropical wave' Madden-Julian Oscillation brings monsoon

A WEATHER phenomenon moving towards Australia from the Indian Ocean could bring East Australia its first cyclone for the season.

The Madden-Julian Oscillation, commonly known as MJO, is a "tropical wave" that moves around the earth and with it there is an increased chance of tropical lows in the Coral Sea. According to bureau meteorologist James Thompson, the system would increase the chance of a tropical low developing, but at this stage there was still only a small chance a cyclone would develop.

The MJO is predicted to move into this part of the world in the next couple of weeks, "end of January into early February", Mr Thompson said.

"In our part of the world it helps to bring the monsoon into the area which can cause tropical low development."